Transcript Ministry of Land and Environment Policy and Legislation Issues

Climate Change, Adaptation and Sustainable
Development:
Implications for the Least Developed Countries
and Small Island Developing States
Presentation by Anastasia Calnick
Ministry of Land and Environment
Kingston, Jamaica
Sustainable Development
“… development that meets the needs of
the present without compromising the
ability of future generations to meet
their own needs."
Sustainable development implies
economic growth together with the
protection of environmental quality,
each reinforcing the other.
The World Commission on Environment
and Development (1987).
Critical Facts
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The 2001 IPCC reaffirmed the fact that
the SIDS account for less than 1% of
GHG emissions but are among the most
vulnerable to the potential adverse effects
of climate change and sea level rise
The region is already experiencing the
impact of climate change, including
extreme events and coral bleaching;
SIDS have no control of mitigation at the
global level and therefore must
implement appropriate adaptation
strategies.
Vulnerabilities of Small Island
Developing States
ECONOMIC
o Isolation from markets & limited
internal markets
o Limited commodities & Dependence
on imports
o Vulnerability to external economic
and financial shocks
Vulnerabilities of Small Island
Developing States (cont’d)
SOCIAL
o Migration (of high-skilled citizens)
o Growth in Criminal Activities
o Declining Public Health
o Poor infrastructure (roads, public
utilities)
Vulnerabilities of Small Island
Developing States (Cont’d)
ENVIRONMENTAL
o Small Size
o Geographic dispersion
o Vulnerability to Natural Disasters
(hurricanes, cyclones, droughts, landslides,
flooding, volcanic eruptions, earthquakes)
o Fragility of ecosystems (coral reefs,
wetlands, fresh water, coasts, forests, soils)
 Limited natural resources & depletion of
non-renewable resources
Observed Trends in Climate for SIDS
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High Temperatures (mean annual values of
20°and above)
Annual average temperatures have
increased by over O.5°over 1900-1995
Declining trend in average annual rainfall
(250mm)
Increasing numbers and intensity of tropical
storms and cyclones (26 named storms in
2005)
Sea-level rise (10 SIDs are approx. 1 metre above
sea-level and sea level rise for the region is expected to
be 30-50 cm over the next 50 years)
IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE
for SIDS- Sectors Affected
1.Marine Ecosystems (coral reefs, mangroves,
sea-grasses,
2. Terrestrial Ecosystems (forests)
3. Biodiversity (population size, species
distribution, habitats and ecosystems)
4. Water Resources (change in soil moisture,
siltation and contamination of water
supplies)
5. Agriculture (reduction in soil moisture &
decrease in crop yield, sea water intrusion
for coastal soils)
6. Fisheries (habitat loss,)
IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE
for SIDS- Sectors Affected (Cont’d)
7. Coastal Resources (coastal erosion, saline
intrusion, flooding)
8. Infrastructure & Settlements (More than 50%
of the pop. Live within 2Km of the coastOver the last decade increasing density of
populations living in coastal areas has made
Caribbean SIDS more vulnerable to natural
disaster
9. Tourism-(largest contribution to GDP &
employment)
10. Human Health (heat strokes, vector–borne
diseases-malaria, dengue, yellow fever)
IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE
for SIDS
“…more than half of the world’s
population currently live within 100
kilometres of the coast, and by2025
it is estimated that 6.3 billion
persons, 75% of the world’s
population will live in the coastal
zone, in coastal mega cities, and
many living in poverty…”
UNESCO - 2001
SELECTED HURRICANES IN THE
CARIBBEAN AND THEIR IMPACT - 1988-2005
Hurricane
Year
Country
Impact (% GDP)
Gilbert
1988
Jamaica
65
Hugo
1989
Montserrat
200
Debbie
1994
St. Lucia
18
Luis & Marilyn
1995
Antigua
65
Luis & Marilyn
1995
St. Kitts/Nevis 85
Georges
1998
St. Kitts/Nevis 50 (sugar harvest)
Lenny
1999
Barbuda
95 (primary sector)
Michelle
2001
Jamaica
1
Ivan
2004
Grenada
200
Ivan
2004
Jamaica
8.0
Dennis & Emily
2005
Jamaica
1.0
International Recognition of Special
Circumstances of SIDS
Stockholm
1972
New York
2000
Doha
2001
Rio
1992
Barbados
1994
Monterrey
Johannesburg
2002
Adaptation Strategies for SIDS
To address the vulnerability of SIDS to
climate change, there is a need to
1. Improve the capacities of SIDS to adapt
to climate change.
2. Strengthen further research, with the
participation of SIDS, on predicting
climate change and variability and the
impact of climate change on
environmental and economic systems.
Adaptation Strategies for SIDS
National level
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Mainstream Adaptation and risk reduction
strategies into policy development in key sectors
(agriculture, health, tourism, fisheries, water
resources)
Sustainable development planning should include,
disaster prevention and management, integrated
coastal management, and health care planning.
Reducing dependence on Petroleum through the
development of Renewable Energy (wind, solar,
biomass, biogas)
Develop new and review existing legislation,
development standards and building codes
Improve public education and awareness
programmes
Adaptation Strategies for SIDS
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Improve early warning systems and disaster
preparedness and risk reduction strategies
Improve the scientific understanding of severe
weather events, including their relation to the
El Niño/Southern Oscillation phenomenon.
Partnerships between SIDS and the
Financial/Insurance sector to develop schemes
to spread risks, reduce insurance premiums,
expand insurance coverage and increase
financing for post-disaster reconstruction and
rehabilitation.
Closer cooperation between SIDS and the
private sector, particularly in developed
countries. Cooperation among SIDS for
dissemination of best practices and lessons
learnt should also be strengthened.
Adaptation Strategies for SIDS
REGIONAL LEVEL
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Strengthening of regional networks for
emergency preparedness
-GIS Hazard Mapping
-Early warning & emergency response
systems
Regional approaches to disaster
management
-coordinated responses
-emergency relief funds
Inter-regional information exchange
Caribbean Community Climate Change
Centre (CCCCC)
The CCCCC was established in 2002
in Belize as the executing agency
for the MACC project. The Centre
operates as a CARICOM agency with
independent management and
serves as a regional institutional to
articulate, support and sustain the
programme of action on climate
change adaptation in the Caribbean.
Adaptation Strategies for SIDS
INTERNATIONAL LEVEL
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Encourage International Donor Assistance
Encourage International Ratification and
Enforcement of Agreements aimed at
reducing negative impact of climate change
Encourage the establishment of special
fund to help finance disaster mitigation,
preparedness and response activities
Adaptation Strategies - Jamaica
PROJECTS
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GEF/UNDP Project - Preparation of National
Communication on Climate Change
GEF/UNDP Project -Caribbean Planning for
Adaptation to Climate Change (CPACC (19982001)
GEF Project- Mainstreaming Adaptation to Climate
Change (MACC)- (2003-2008)
The UNDP/GEF National Capacity Self Assessment
Project (2004-2005)
Latin American Energy Organisation (OLADE)
Regional climate change initiative
UNDP/GEF Jamaica Climate Change Enabling
Activity (JCCEA)
Adaptation Strategies - Jamaica
POLICIES & ACTION PLANS
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The Forest Policy and the National Forest
Management and Conservation Plan
The National Land Policy
The Agriculture Policy
National Irrigation Policy
Water Sector Policy
Draft Watersheds Policy
National Energy Sector Policy
National Biological Diversity Strategy and
Action Plan
Disaster Mitigation Policy
Adaptation Strategies - Jamaica
Participation in the Clean
Development Mechanism
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Establishment of the Interim DNA in
2002
Approval of the Wigton (20MW)Wind
Wind Farm Project (JAMAICA/THE
NETHERLANDS)
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Development of a Draft CDM Portfolio
of Projects
Development of draft sustainable
development criteria
Adaptation Strategies - Jamaica
Other Initiatives
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Development of storm surge maps and
multi-hazard assessment maps for
Kingston
Reliable Early Warning Systems for
hurricanes and storm surges
Technical Cooperation Agreement
(JA/CUBA) for the Rehabilitation of the
Palisadoes
THANK YOU